1. NOT 2 SUCK
BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
How NOT to suck at presenting your ideas
Megan Mead

2. Megan Mead
Michael Gibson
BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
MEGAN MEAD
· BFA Visual Communica-
tions, double minor
in Theatre Marketing
· 15 yrs theatrical training
experience
· SXSWi 2013 Presenter
ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER
CREATIVE SUITCASE, AUSTIN
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3. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
TELLUS
· who you are the name of your company
· what you do for them
· your presentation fears OR what you hope to gain
from today’s session
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4. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
WHATWEWILL
COVERTODAY
· why presenting well is a big deal
· what good presentations do/should achieve
· some story telling strategies acting techniques
· Q A / discussion
· mix mingling
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5. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
WHYISMAKINGAGOOD
PRESENTATIONABIGDEAL?
BADPRESENTATIONSCAN KILLGOODIDEAS
· audiences/clients have a hard time separating a good
idea from a poor presentation
· avoid singing a great song badly
· the quality of presentation is directly correlated to the quality of
your idea
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6. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
AGOOD
PRESENTATIONSHOULD…
MAKETHECOMPLEXUNDERSTANDABLE
· in ways that make sense to your audience/clients
· they won’t advocate for or invest in what they can’t understand
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7. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
AGOOD
PRESENTATIONSHOULD…
CREATEEMPATHY
· understanding an idea(s) is different than caring
about it
· do your homework and know your audience
· why they should care and how it will create value
for them now and in the future
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8. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
AGOOD
PRESENTATIONSHOULD…
MEETTHEFOLLOWINGPRIMARYGOALS
· it is professional
· it is well-organized
· it is engaging
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9. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS PROFESSIONAL
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
· do not “wing it”
· practice in a way(s) that works for you
· if you practice well, you will present well
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10. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS WELL-ORGANIZED
YOUR STORYLINE
· Tell a well-structured story. “You’re not Quentin Tarrantino:”
don’t jump into the middle; provide an easy-to-follow storyline…
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INTRO/FRAMING
WHYTHEYSHOULDCARE
2
OUTLINE KEY POINTS
ARTICULATETHEM
SUPPORTW/RATIONALES
3
REITERATE KEY POINTS
S U M M A R I Z E
ENDW/MEMORYBITE
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11. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS ENGAGING
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
· definition: tending to draw favorable attention or interest
· this requires confidence, enthusiasm and good stage presence
· how do we achieve this?
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12. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS ENGAGING
VOCAL WARM UPS | WHY?
· Physical Prep: sharpen your #1 tool
· Relaxes: Your voice can betray you
“A warm voice is a confident voice”
· Mental Prep: Take a minute for yourself and focus
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13. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS ENGAGING
VOCAL WARM UPS | HOW?
· shake it out: get loose and get silly to get ready
· BDGD: warm up your vocal muscles
· tongue twisters: get your mouth ready for any sound,
any sentence—anything
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14. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS ENGAGING
TONGUE TWISTERS
· Unique New York. You need New York. You know you
need unique New York. (x 3)
· toy boat, toy boat, toy boat…
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15. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS ENGAGING
IMPROV EXERCISE #1: SPEAK ON THE FLY
· things rarely go by script—practice extemporaneous speaking
· how: grab a magazine, pick a page at random, and speak
about its contents enthusiastically for 60 seconds non-stop
· why?: doing this helps you practice speaking on the fly,
as well as the ability to think on your feet
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16. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS ENGAGING
IMPROV EXERCISE #2: ELEVATOR PITCH
· stage presence require confidence—practice moving decisively
and being comfortable wherever you are
· how: walk into an elevator, act normal and stand the opposite
direction as everyone else (facing away from the doors)
· why?: doing this will help you become more comfortable with
being uncomfortable and therefore more confident
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17. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
A GOOD PRESENTATION
IS ENGAGING
SHOW SOME ENTHUSIASM
· if you aren’t excited, they won’t be either
· channel your nervousness
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18. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
TO SUMMARIZE
BE YOURSELF, BUT BETTER
· a good presentation is a genuine presentation
· find what works, forget what doesn’t
· be true to you (just be a less nervous you)
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19. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
ANDALWAYSREMEMBER...
BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS
· please plan, prepare practice
· utilize some of these tips tricks to improve
your presentation performance
· above all, be professional, be organized be engaging
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20. BAD PRESENTATIONS KILL GOOD IDEAS #not2suck
Q A
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